Trade center beam to be erected at Erie's Sept. 11 memorial

This is an architectural rendering of the planned memorial to honor victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Committee members working on the project hope to build the memorial on land in front of the Blasco Memorial Library in Erie, which is shown in this rendering. David A. Brennan, Designer & Architect/CONTRIBUTEDERIE TIMES-NEWS

Construction at the Erie County memorial to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks will take a major step forward this morning.

An 18-foot-tall, 10,000-pound steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center site will be erected by workers from Erie's Hoffman Industrial Co. during a 9 a.m. ceremony at the memorial, which is in front of the Blasco Library.

Much of the work for the memorial is being donated by local contractors and volunteers. Former Erie City Councilman Mark Aleksandrowicz, chairman of the local Sept. 11 memorial committee, said those who have "donated money, time, materials or labor to this project" are among those who have been invited.

Aleksandrowicz acquired the beam and spent the past three years spearheading plans for a local Sept. 11 memorial.

"It's more than a steel beam. It's a piece of history," Aleksandrowicz said. "It represents people coming together to help each other."

Work on the memorial began in August.

The steel beam will be the centerpiece of a brick and stone circular plaza illuminated with in-ground, recessed lighting. The memorial will also feature stone benches adjacent to the memorial entrance, landscaping, information panels and related exhibits and artifacts inside Blasco Library.

Both Erie County government and the city of Erie donated $10,000 to the project.

Aleksandrowicz has said the memorial is projected to cost $56,000 and the exhibit inside Blasco Library $50,000.

The local 9/11 committee has received $10,000 in private donations thus far.